The Scarlet Pimpernel is a play and
adventure novel by
Emma Orczy set during the
Reign of Terror following the start of the
French Revolution. The title character, Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English
fop who transforms into a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist, represents the original "
hero with a
secret identity" that was a precursor to subsequent literary creations such as Don Diego de la Vega (
Zorro) and Bruce Wayne (
Batman).